Christmas Past by KimB

One benefit of getting farther along on the path of life is that memories become a new dwelling place. A place of mixed rewards. A place full of angels and a multitude of demons. A place of unresolvable anger and of unlimited happiness. It's a place where we can sometimes chose different outcomes or savor our more fortunate experiences. It's a kaleidoscopic sort of place where fragments of events past reside and by turning the wheel a new view is seen. It's not always an easy place to be, the demons of both real and re-imaged events are present. The angels arise when we set aside our normal demons and look at the kaleidoscope from a new angle.

Christmas Past is one of those many events that reside in memory. The memories that flow from years of holidays most often bring a flurry of emotions: excitement, anticipation, surprise, happiness, pride with a dash of disappointment and a touch of envy. For the most part the happy end of the scale remains after the many physical aspects of Christmas Past have disappeared.

The memories fullest of warmth and contentment do not always arise from presents that where so fiercely desired and then received but more often they arise from events that were minor details in the background of ripped paper and exclamations of surprise. They are often the smallest of details that surpass the value of everything else found under a tree, in a sock or next to a menorah.

These are the true presents given by Christmas Past. They are ours alone. They are ours to open every day or every hour. They are reminders of something unique that happens when people exchange something far beyond the physical. They happen when we exchange Love: our greatest token of all that we desire for ourselves and others.

May this holiday and all other holidays fill your memories with Love, for these are the presents that last a life time.



Kaleidoscopes Images

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and the mad rush to get things finished for tomorrow is winding down. Cookies have been baked and mailed along with batches of sugarplums to loved ones across the country, and gifts are wrapped and placed under the tree.

I couldn't help remembering past Christmases as I prepared for this years. In the early years of my childhood, the decorated Christmas tree with lights was part of the Christmas morning surprises that Santa brought. As we children got older we decorated Christmas trees with garlands of paper rings made at school along with strings of popcorn and cranberries that we spent hours making. There were beautiful but fragile ornaments from Germany that were carefully wrapped and boxed and stored away for the next Christmas.

When my children were small, my husband and I spent the night reading instructions on how to assemble some complex toy or other and still have just enough time left to get a quick nap before the kids woke us up to see what Santa brought.

I have wonderful memories of New Year Eve bells ringing in hopes for health, wealth and happiness, and it goes without saying, that I wish all my family and friends a healthy and prosperous 2019.

I hope the country will have a great 2019, but the news isn't encouraging. Too many lies told by government officials.

lies are deceptions
a fact, I merely mention
deception by lies
is my chief contention. ¹

1. Apologies to the unknown poet of Horse Sense
   https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/horse-sense